The Bloom Energy project in Newark, Delaware is continuing to heat up in the news.
On Thursday, the state Senate voted 18-2 to pass legislation to help the project along.
This Bill would change the state’s renewable energy policy to include energy created from Bloom boxes, the energy converters that this California-based company specializes in.
Though the fuel cells in the boxes mainly use natural gas, a fossil fuel and not a renewable power source, the electrochemical process they use to create energy significantly reduces pollution.
And they can also be powered by various other fuels, including ethanol and biomass.
Bloom Energy recently announced their plan to bring a manufacturing facility to Newark, Delaware, to be built on land that was previously the site of an old Chrysler factory.
The new facility will create enough Bloom boxes to supply Delmarva Power with 30MW of energy.
The state has a government-regulated mandate requiring a certain level of energy output from renewable sources each year, and now the Bloom boxes may be able to contribute to this.
Next week the Bill will move to the House for a vote.
The government will be offering grants to Bloom Energy for this project, totaling near $11.25 million for the approximate 900 jobs that will be created in the manufacturing plant and another $3.75 million for the 600 supply jobs that will become available, according to Forbes.
Despite government grants, however, Bloom boxes are still expensive, and the cost of each Delmarva Power customer’s monthly bill will likely increase by as much as $1.
This was the argument given by the two Senate members who voted against the legislation.
And yet 18 others believed it was worth the risk to reduce emissions and back a plan for cleaner energy sources in the state.
Delaware seems to have faith in Bloom Energy.
That’s all for now,
Brianna
